Ardex AF 171 Universal Vinyl Adhesive

For resilient and textile floor installations complying with AS 1884, ARDEX AF 171 is an off-white, low-VOC universal flooring adhesive that provides high resistance to plasticiser migration, extended open times, and excellent dimensional stability under vinyl sheet, luxury vinyl tiles, planks, and linoleum.

What it does

ARDEX AF 171 secures resilient and textile floorcoverings to prepared internal subfloors with high initial grab and high final bond strength. It accommodates different flooring formats through dual application methods: as a wet-set adhesive to ensure rapid transfer for luxury vinyl planks (LVP) and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), or as a semi-wet adhesive bed for commercial and residential sheet vinyl.

The formulation resists plasticiser migration, preventing the bond degradation and dimensional shifting that can occur when plasticisers in vinyl flooring migrate into the adhesive layer over time.

Numbers that matter

• 15-minute wet-set window: The maximum time available to install luxury vinyl planks and tiles after spreading the adhesive to ensure 100% transfer before skinning.
• 40 to 50-minute semi-wet dry time: The set-up window required for sheet vinyl installations, allowing the adhesive to dry partially so trowel notches can be flattened to prevent ridges from telegraphing through thin sheet flooring.
• 72-hour cure time: The full drying period required at 20°C to achieve maximum final bond strength.
• 1-hour rolling limit: Installed flooring must be rolled in both directions within 60 minutes of placement to guarantee complete crush-out of the adhesive ridges.

Where to use it

This adhesive is suitable for securing the following floor coverings to compatible substrates:

• Vinyl sheet, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), luxury vinyl planks (LVP), and linoleum
• Rubber tiles and sheets up to 4mm thick
• Acoustic mats
• Direct stick and dual bond carpets

Compatible substrates include cementitious underlayments over concrete, hardboard underlay (conforming to AS/NZS 21854.9), HP MDF (conforming to AS/NZS 1859.2), plywood underlay grade C (conforming to AS/NZS 2269.0), fibre cement sheet (conforming to AS/NZS 2908.2), and plasterboard. Contact ARDEX Technical Services for advice regarding installation over terrazzo, ceramic tiles, and metal substrates.

Limitations

• Where rising damp is present or concrete substrate moisture levels exceed 90% RH, consult ARDEX technical bulletin 192 (Smoothing Cement - Moisture Barrier Systems) or ARDEX Technical Services.
• A minimum of 3mm of an ARDEX levelling compound must be installed over any applied moisture barrier (such as ARDEX WPM 300 or ARDEX WPM 368) before applying ARDEX AF 171.
• Site conditions, including subfloor porosity, temperature, and humidity, will alter the coverage, setup times, and working windows.

Installation and moisture preparation

All surfaces must be dry, smooth, clean, and absorbent. Ambient and substrate temperatures must be maintained consistently in accordance with AS 1884 and the flooring manufacturer's guidelines for 48 hours before, during, and after installation.

Highly absorbent subfloors must be primed with ARDEX P 51 Primer before adhesive application. For damp or green concrete substrates exceeding 80% relative humidity (ASTM F2170) or 15g/m²/24hrs (ASTM F1869) but below 90% RH, prepare the subfloor using one of the following moisture stop options before applying the required 3mm levelling underlayment:

• Option 1: A single coat of ARDEX WPM 300 applied at 3m²/litre, blinded with broadcast ARDEX Primer Sand while wet, cured overnight, and swept clean of excess sand.
• Option 2: A single coat of ARDEX WPM 368 applied at 3m²/litre, which allows direct application of the ARDEX levelling compound without an additional primer once cured.

Coverage guide

Coverage rates depend on substrate porosity and texture. Trowel selection should be site-verified to ensure adequate adhesive transfer:

• Residential sheet vinyl: Up to 5m²/litre using a U1 trowel.
• Commercial sheet vinyl: Up to 5m²/litre using a V1 trowel.
• Smooth back rubber: Up to 5m²/litre using a V1 trowel.
• Textured back rubber: Up to 2.5m²/litre using a V2 trowel.
• Linoleum: Up to 2.5m²/litre using a V2 trowel.
• Direct stick carpet: Up to 0.8m² to 5m²/litre using a V1 to V3 trowel.